Russia strongly condemns assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran

'The orchestrators of this political assassination were clearly aware of the severe repercussions this act could have for the region,' says Foreign Ministry

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Russia on Wednesday strongly condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Palestinian group Hamas’ political bureau, in an airstrike on his residence in the Iranian capital Tehran.

During a press briefing in Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Andrey Nastasyin said the attack occurred while Haniyeh was in Iran for the official inauguration of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.

"The orchestrators of this political assassination were clearly aware of the severe repercussions this act could have for the region. There is no doubt that the killing of Ismail Haniyeh will severely disrupt the ongoing indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, which were focused on establishing mutually acceptable cease-fire conditions in the Gaza Strip," Nastasyin emphasized.

The official called on all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could spark a dramatic escalation of violence and a large-scale armed conflict in the region.

Early Wednesday, Hamas announced that Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his residence in Tehran.

Iranian state television confirmed Haniyeh's death, saying an investigation is underway and that the findings will be released soon.

Israel has yet to make an official statement regarding the airstrike on Haniyah's residence in Tehran.

Kaynak: